“Ha. I’m sure. But he knows he owes me at least some fun time with my new friends and that’s another reason I got you up so early. So we don’t keep the admiral waiting.”
“For sure.” Maddie winked and then she focused in on Braden and her eyes widened and her mouth opened as her gaze traveled over his chest.
“Close your mouth, Maddie-girl. You’ll draw flies,” Thomas said, laughing harder than he had at Braden.
“I’ll dunk you in the lake,” Maddie threatened, which made Thomas laugh harder.
He dodged away from her and rushed for the patio door. “Let’s go!”
The sun was still behind the trees, but the sky was glowing as they walked to the lakeside and plunged in. The water temp wasn’t bad, having been warmed by the long summer and the nights not getting too cold this early in September.
Braden was a great swimmer, having swum in high school to counteract the abuse football did to his body. Being in the Navy, he got plenty of opportunities to be in the water too, but these two put him to shame. He would’ve loved to see how incredible Maddie’s Navy SEAL cousin could swim. She beat him and Thomas in every race except the back stroke where Thomas pulled ahead. They all raced, laughed, splashed, and teased. Braden lifted Maddie in his arms and tossed her into the water a few times. If Thomas hadn’t been here, he might’ve gotten some more kisses in. Maddie didn’t seem to be putting up her wall with him or pushing him away.
After swimming, he and Maddie each showered while Thomas made them breakfast. They ate the delicious French toast, an egg skillet with veggies and sausage, and fruit parfait, both stuffed halfway through, but they kept eating to keep Thomas happy. He chattered throughout the meal, telling them how he’d been a child genius, entered the military to put himself through school, but loved it and developed his specialties of coding and cracking code under Admiral Delta’s encouragement. After Admiral Davidson left the military, his new admiral didn’t take his protection as serious and Thomas was targeted by several terrorist groups and almost lost his life. He showed them the bullet wound in his shoulder and the knife scars under his bushy beard. Davidson had helped him go off radar and do contract work with people they both trusted.
After breakfast, Maddie and Braden both knew they had to say goodbye.
Thomas walked them to their rental car. Braden stored the bags in the back as Thomas hugged Maddie and begged, “Come back soon. I’ll give you a rematch in the backstroke.”
“I will,” Maddie promised, giving him a kiss on the cheek right above his bushy beard. “Maybe you could come to Summit Valley and see us after this King Frederick mess is over.”
“Maybe. The admiral would like that.”
“Yes, he would.”
Thomas released her and hugged Braden tight. “Keep her safe and happy,” Thomas whispered in his ear.
Braden pulled back and nodded. “I will.” He hoped he could keep that promise. Not that he wouldn’t want to or do everything in his power to, but he worried Maddie wouldn’t allow him to. Above all, he had to not force her into anything and push her away from him.
He got Maddie’s door and then walked around to his. They both waved to Thomas as they drove off.
“What a guy,” Maddie said.
“He’s great. I wish he didn’t have to be so alone.”
Maddie simply lifted her shoulders. “There are worse things.”
“What would be worse than being alone when you crave human company?” Braden turned onto the roughly paved road and hoped she’d answer, maybe even open up.
“Being surrounded by people but never letting them know what’s really inside.”
Braden glanced sharply at her and almost missed the next turn. He took it and was onto the highway. Once he got up to speed and turned on the adaptive cruise with the lane assist on, he felt he could have a deep conversation with Maddie. He wished he could hold her while they talked, but it might be easier for her while they were driving and he couldn’t stare intently at her. His mom used to tell him some of their best teenage conversations were in the car where he would let down his guard.
“Why don’t you show anyone what’s on the inside?” he asked carefully.
There was a long stretch of silence in the vehicle. Braden clung to the steering wheel even though he suspected this new Hyundai Elantra could’ve driven itself.
Maddie pushed out a heavy breath and said in a falsely bright voice, “Who cares about the inside when my outside is smoking hot?”
“Your outside is more than smoking hot,” he admitted, “but I care about your insides, and I love everything I’ve learned about your insides.”
Again there was silence. He looked over and she was staring out the front windshield, her brow furrowed. She caught his stare and gave him a huge smile. “Just because I let you make-out with me last night does not mean you get all my dark secrets.” She winked as if it was all a joke.
Before Braden could beg for her to share, somehow get her to trust that he only wanted to be here for her and show her no matter what she shared he would love and protect her, never leave her, she continued, “Did you know that Admiral and Olivet Seamons’ only granddaughter Kylee is in love with my cousin Chandler?”
Braden felt like he had whiplash from her quick redirection. He wanted to focus on the previous conversation but could sense pushing her would only make her tease and laugh and throw up higher walls. “Really? Chandler Delta? The middie for the Boston Cannons who’s so impressive?”
“That’s the one. He’s a stud, that guy. You ready for a crazy story?”